Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa leaves early with apparent leg injury

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to aggravate a knee sprain and was forced to leave the field in the third quarter during Saturday’s game against Missouri.

Tagovailoa wore a protective brace on his knee against Missouri, throwing for 265 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions before appearing to aggravate the injury while sliding on a run.

Trainers tended to Tagovailoa on the field, and he was able to jog to the sideline under his own power. He immediately went into a sideline tent to receive medical attention. He missed Alabama’s next offensive series.

Tagovailoa spent nearly 10 minutes in the tent, with his parents coming down from the stands to visit him.

Tagovailoa, a Heisman Trophy front-runner, injured the knee a week earlier during a win over Arkansas.

Saban labeled the injury a sprain on Thursday and noted that Tagovailoa hadn’t missed any reps in practice.

Jalen Hurts, who started 28 straight games with a record of 26-2 prior to becoming a backup this season, came on for the injured Tagovailoa. The junior and former SEC Offensive Player of the Year has appeared in every game this season, completing 30 of 42 passes for 453 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

Tagovailoa has started every game this season. The sophomore from Hawaii entered the weekend having thrown for 1,495 yards, 18 touchdowns and no interceptions.